Skook News Obituaries: September 9th, 2025
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Born Monday, July 19, 1943 in Coaldale the son of the late David and Dorothy (Rodgers) Lewis. Dave was also predeceased by; brother, William Rodgers; sister, Dorothy Yorke.
Surviving are; daughter, Denise M. Price and her husband Bill; son, David W. Lewis and his wife Lori; sister, Rosetta Hoffman; grandchildren, Anthony Lewis, Talia Lewis, Justin Lewis, Natasha Price, William Price Jr.; great grandchildren, Deysha Smith, and CJ Smith.
A 1961 graduate of Marian Catholic High School where Dave was a star player for the Marian Colts basketball team being the schools first 1,000 point scorer. In 2008, Dave was inducted into the Marian Sports Hall of Fame. Dave worked in the Insurance business for his entire career. An accomplished dart shooter, Dave also enjoyed fishing and spending time at his family's cabin at Promise Land Lake.
Private Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. 655 East Broad Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252, (570) 668-2550
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Born in Pottsville on July 12, 1948, he was the son of the late Verna (Stump) and Lamar Fidler.
Married 47 years, he was the husband of Linda L. (Klahr) Fidler.
Larry was a graduate of Blue Mountain High School.
He served in the U.S. Army.
He was co-owner of Fidler Brothers Construction, Pottsville and operated his family’s farm most of his life.
Larry was a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Friedensburg. He was also a lifetime member and Assistant Chief of Friedensburg Fire Co. No. 1; served on the Board of Directors for the Schuylkill County Fair; and was a Freemason.
In addition to his wife, Larry is survived by two sons: Mark Ackerman, Brandon Fidler, partner of Jen Krammes; a daughter, Stacy, wife of Robert Steckley; grandson, Blake Renninger; brother, Stanley Fidler; and nephews: Dennis, Ronnie, & Tommy Fidler and their families.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, September 11th at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Friedensburg with Rev. Matthew Carpenter officiating. A visitation will be held from 9:30 until the start of the service. Interment will be held privately at the family’s convenience.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 24 Church Rd. Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972.
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He is survived by his daughter Katelyn McNeill (Sell) and husband Daniel McNeill. Grandchildren Quinn McNeill and Zoey McNeill. Sister Laurie Glass (Sell) and husband Jeffery Glass. Nephew Richard Glass and Niece Cassandra Gilles (Glass). Brother Michael Sell and sister Christine Sell. Girlfriend Peggy Hamm and her daughter Angela Schaeffer. His beloved dogs, Duddley, Jakey and Sadie.
Daniel was a 1974 graduate of Quakertown High School. He then attended East Stroudsburg University as well as Ursinus College to earn a degree in engineering. He loved to play guitar and could sometimes be found helping with the Sunday worship team. An avid coffee drinker, he was always in search of a new blend to try. One of his dreams was to one day open a coffee shop that helped those in need. His happy place was sitting on the balcony at the beach, cup of coffee in hand, watching the boats go by.
Private services will be held.
The family requests memorial contributions be made to Last Chance Ranch in Quakertown, PA in honor of Daniel Sell, a lifelong dog lover.
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Born in Ashland, she was a daughter of the late Peter J. and Marie C. (Winters) Cress. She had worked in several area factories as a seamstress. She was also a secretary for Ultimate Home Health Care and later worked as a secretary for Pennsylvania District Court System in the office of Magistrate Kilker.
Rose was an honor graduate of the former Immaculate Heart High School, member of the Ladies of the AOH and Red Hats both of Girardville and volunteered as PTA basketball coach. She had a passion for baking and loved decorating cakes but most of all she enjoyed spending as much time as she could with her family whom she loved so much.
She was preceded in death by her first husband James J. Burke; her second husband Raymond H. Wayne; granddaughter Mackenzie Rose; brothers: Peter James Cress, Joe Cress and her sister Elizabeth Cress.
Rose is survived by her son, James “Jim” and his wife Bridget Burke, Fountain Springs; her three daughters: Kathleen and her husband Joseph Stepulaitis, Jacksonville, FL; Liz, wife of John Roberts, Frackville and Kristin, wife of Michael Murphy, Smithsburg, MD; her brother Charles “Chucky” Cress, Ashland and her sister Marie McCabe and her husband Gerald, Ashland; her grandchildren; Katelyn, Joseph, Michael, Greg, Avery, Nolan, Caden, Kailey and Ryan; her great-grandchildren: Garhett, Theodore and Noah; also by several nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 20th at 10 a.m. in St. Vincent’s Catholic Church, Girardville with Rev. Guency Isaac, pastor, as the celebrant. Friends may call on Friday, September 19th at the Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home, Girardville, from 6 to 8 p.m. and again on Saturday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers the family prefers masses for Rose or donations, in Rose’s name, be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 Saint Jude Pl, Memphis, Tennessee 38105
Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home, Girardville, is in charge of arrangements.
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Herb was born in Cressona, Pa. on December 20, 1938, a son of the late Alma (Kramer) and Norman Laubenstine.
He was the widower of Anne Elizabeth (Davies) Laubenstine.
Herb was a member of Salem United Methodist Church Orwigsburg and he graduated from Blue Mountain High School, Class of 1956.
Herb worked as a Carpenter for Cresswell Brothers and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed the outdoors and sports. He was a fan of his philly teams and fast pitch baseball.
He was a member of the Goodwill Fire Company, Cressona, the Friedensburg Gun Club and was a past member of the Schuylkill Masonic Lodge No. # 138 F & AM.
Herb is survived by a daughter, Janet Kimmel , wife of Glenn Kimmel, Jr., and son John "Jack" Laubenstine, husband of Faith,
He is also survived by his grandchildren Jamie Ott wife of Matthew; Matthew Laubenstine, husband of Cynthia; Jessica Bambrick, wife of Thomas; Nicholas Laubenstine. Herb has two great grandchildren Hadley Bambrick and Easton Ott.
He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his brothers Henry, Kenneth, Richard, Oliver and Ronald.Laubenstine
Services are private at the convenience of family and entrusted to the Hamilton-Breiner Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc.
Rodney Curtier, 34, of Minersville, PA, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Saturday, September 6, 2025.
Born in Pottsville, Rodney was the son of Jody (Marx) Gibson and the late Barry Curtier.
A graduate of Pottsville Area School District, he was a member of the school's track and swimming teams. Rodney was a passionate/creative person who used his drawings and artwork to express his kind heart and love for others. He was a beloved member of the River Church in Pottsville.
He is survived by his mother, Jody Gibson; his two children, Earl and Layla; his paternal grandmother, Jenet Curtier; and his maternal grandmother, Nancy Whalen. He is also survived by his siblings, Sundeena Curtier, Anthony Curtier, Adam Gibson, and Matthew Gibson, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects and share memories with Rodney's family at a memorial service on Friday, September 19, 2025, at the Schlitzer Allen Pugh Funeral Home, 515 West Market Street, Pottsville. Visitation will be held from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, with the Memorial Services to follow at 2:00 PM.
Donna M. Leinenbach, 81, of Ashland, passed away at her home, Monday, September 8, 2025.
Services are private at the convenience of family and entrusted to the Hamilton-Breiner Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc.
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Born in Pottsville, Rodney was the son of Jody (Marx) Gibson and the late Barry Curtier.
A graduate of Pottsville Area School District, he was a member of the school's track and swimming teams. Rodney was a passionate/creative person who used his drawings and artwork to express his kind heart and love for others. He was a beloved member of the River Church in Pottsville.
He is survived by his mother, Jody Gibson; his two children, Earl and Layla; his paternal grandmother, Jenet Curtier; and his maternal grandmother, Nancy Whalen. He is also survived by his siblings, Sundeena Curtier, Anthony Curtier, Adam Gibson, and Matthew Gibson, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects and share memories with Rodney's family at a memorial service on Friday, September 19, 2025, at the Schlitzer Allen Pugh Funeral Home, 515 West Market Street, Pottsville. Visitation will be held from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, with the Memorial Services to follow at 2:00 PM.
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Donna M. Leinenbach, 81, of Ashland, passed away at her home, Monday, September 8, 2025.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced. V
The Richard W. Fritz Funeral Home, Ashland, is in charge of funeral arrangements
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These obituaries are being brought to by Mark J. Hummel Funeral Home, Frackville
